Implications - Bonding over social issues like gender inequality, women are turning to forms of satire for a more self-reflexive form of commentary. Engaging in role-reversal skits and social experiments, females are using the power of videos to not only bring other like-minded individuals together, but also provide a more lighthearted approach to making social change. [More]

Implications - Moving away from traditional in-person methods of expression, proposals are taking on a more animated form. Using graphics and stop-motion features to convey personalized experiences, these techniques reflect a reduced need for face-to-face interaction. This signifies a turn towards more digitized but sentimental sources of affection. [More]

Youth are given a platform for personal expression via YouTube and viral videos

Implications - Providing an alternative viewpoint to adult opinions, kids take the hot seat in viral videos to showcase a different and often unabashed perspective on adult subject matters. Showcasing humor and a sense of innocence, these videos signify a greater acceptance of diverse expression, particularly among kids. [More]

Aging demographics turn to forms of online satire as a method of expression

Implications - Boomers are taking center stage in YouTube videos and parodies as online participation moves beyond mere Millennials. Showing up in everything from movie spoofs to dance offs, traditional authority figures, like moms and dads, are using social platforms as a form of satire or storytelling. Thus, signifying a more lax and open attitude among adults, particularly in the social sphere. [More]

A demand for authenticity prompts celebs to engage in down-to-earth tactics

Implications - With mass media often overdramatizing stories to the public, consumers become doubtful of its authenticity. As a means to preserve believability and thus, likability, celebrities are turning to self-deprecating means of exposure. The down-to-earth tactics prove useful as consumers crave marketing and entertainment they can relate to. [More]

Slight variations on YouTube videos are being used for clever commentary

Implications - YouTube is being used at an increased rate as an effective way to reach a younger audience. Brands are taking the entertainment in these videos up a notch by spoofing existing YouTube content for a more enjoyable viewing experience. This not only makes it more likely for said videos to go viral, but may lead to consumers actively seeking out content by a brand, motivated by entertainment. [More]

Implications - The public has a strong affinity for watching genuine displays of emotion, which is one of the reasons why so many videos of social experiments go viral on the web. Looking to dive deeper into the human condition, consumers find this form of entertainment enchanting because of its unabashed honesty. [More]

Implications - Appealing to a very web-based, Millennial demographic, marketing using satire and sarcasm has been turning heads. Organizations ranging from activist groups to Cadbury and Kraft Foods have used tongue-in-cheek faux documentaries to target the young adult market, speaking with them using their own dialect. [More]

Implications - As consumers become less responsive to traditional advertising messages, entertainment becomes the key in getting a brand's message across. Capitalizing on Internet video are brands that are using targeted webisodes to reach their customers. These specialized online miniseries allow for market-specific content, ensuring that brands reach a certain demographic or consumer group and hold their attention for longer than a 30-second commercial. [More]